Camera-carrier for bicycles.



' No. 665,480. Patented Jan. 8, l90l.

E. w. SUFTLEY.

CAMERA CARRIER FOR BICYCLES.

(Application file d Jan. 3. 1898., (No Model.)

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No. 665,480. Patented Jan/a, 19m. E. w. sormzv.

CAMERA CARRIER FOR BIGYCLES.

(Application filed Jan. 8. 1898.,

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

EDWIN W. SOFTLEY, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAM ERA-CARRIEI? FOR BICYCLES.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 665,480, datedJanuary-8, 1901.

Application died January 3, 1898. Serial No. 665,332. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN W. SOFTLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Scranton, in the countyof Lackawanna, in the State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCamera-Carriers for Bicycles, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements incamera-carriers for bicycles. A great number of riders of bicycles areamateur photographers and when out on the road are desirous of takingsnap-shots at some striking scenery or other object of interest whichmay present itself. The great drawback to this is the inconvenience ofcarrying a camera and setting it up properly when the occasion ispresented. To meet this inconvenience and provide a simple and cheaparrangement for carrying and supporting the camera and setting it up atany point on the road, myinvention consists in certain features ofnovelty hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I represents a side elevation of the rear portion of a bicycleprovided with my improved camera-carrier. Fig. II represents an endelevation of the same, showing the manner in which the camera-carrier iscarried on the frame. Fig. III represents an end elevation showing themanner in which the device is set up when on the road to take arpicture.

Fig. IV represents a view of the under side of; the camera-plate,showing the parts in detail.

Fig. V represents a detail view showing the arrangement for connectingthe legs with the plate. Fig.VI represents a detail view of thearrangement for extending and securing the ground-leg of the support.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

1 represents the rear wheel, and 2 the rear axle, of a bicycle.

3 represents the side bars; 4,the rear braces; 5, the seat-post tube,and 6 the seat-post.

7 represents a plate of suitable dimensions to carry the camera 8. Saidplate is at its forward end connected with the rear braces 4 by means ofthe clamps 9, secured upon the extension 10 upon said plate by the bolts11, provided with the nuts 12, said clamps being adjustable upon saidextension by the slots 13 to accommodate the different distances betweenthe braces on different wheels. At the rear-0f said plate 7 a sleeve 14is secured thereon.

15 represents the axle-legs, which are provided with the lateral arms16, arranged to enter and to be movably and removably connected withsaid sleeve, said arms being beveled at their ends, as shown at 17 inFig. V, so that when turned forward, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.IV, said beveled end may be slipped under the spring 18, lying in therecess '19 in the sleeve, and when said arm is inserted fully within thesleeve and the leg is turned to a vertical position said spring willengage the recess 20 in said arm and retain the arm within the sleeve,while at the same time said leg has a free pivotal movement. The saidlegs at their lower endsare bifurcated, as shown at 21 in Fig. I, andrest upon the axle 2. Said axle-legs near their upper ends are providedwith the lugs 22, upon which are pivotally mounted the groundlegs 23,provided with the extensions 24:, arranged to telescope therewith. Thatsaid extension may be extended and fixed at any desired length, as shownin Fig. VI, said extension at its inner end is threaded, as shown at 25,and provided with a beveled shoulder 26. Upon said threaded portion isthreaded a slotted sleeve 27. Then by turning said extension in onedirection said sleeve is carried down over said shoulder and beingspread thereby is impacted against the surrounding wall, and theextension thus fixedly secured at the desired point, said sleeve 27, assaid extension 24 is turned, being prevented from turning by frictionagainst the surrounding wall. Then by turning the extension in theopposite direction the sleeve is loosened and the parts become free tobe moved as desired.

28 represents spring-clamps secured upon the ground-legs 23 and arrangedto be sprung upon the axle-legs, and the ground-legs are thereby safelyand securely carried when not in use.

The camera is secured upon the plate by the set-screws 29 passingthrough said plate and engaging the bottom plate of the camera.

30 represents slide-latches operating in the recesses 31 in the plate inthe usual manner to prevent the escape of the set-screws when notengaged in the camera.

Thus it will be seen that the rider has his camera conveniently carriedand always ready for use. All he has to do is to dismount and level uphis instrument bymeans of the ground-legs and-extensions, as shown inFig. III, said ground-legs with the wheels serving as a tripod for thesupport of the camera, and by loosening one of the screws 29 the cameramay be turned in any. direction, thus giving a wide field. A furtheradvantage Will be found in that a larger camera can be carried thancould comfortably be carried without the attachment, and thus a betterand more satisfactory picture may be taken, and the camera beingsupported in a substantial position and manner the device becomes ofparticular ad vantage in that time exposures may be taken.

Having thus fully described my attachment, what I claim as my invention,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A camera-carrier for bicycles consisting of a plate, clamps connectedwith said plate arranged to be secured upon the frame of a bicycle, asleeve on said plate, legs carried by said sleeve arranged to rest uponthe rear axle, and extensible ground-legs pivotally connected with saidaxle-legs; substantially as set forth.

2. A camera-carrier for bicycles consisting of a plate, clamps connectedwith said plate arranged to be secured upon the frame of a bicycle, arecessed sleeve on said plate, legs provided with laterally-extendingrecessed arms arranged to be carried by said sleeve, and springsarranged in said recesses in said sleeve, and engaging the recesses insaid arms to retain said arms within the sleeves substantially as setforth.

3. In a camera-carrier for bicycles, a plate arranged to carry thecamera, a sleeve secured upon said plate, legs arranged to be carried bysaid sleeve, and springs connected with said plate and arranged toengage said legs to retain the same within said sleeve; substantially asset forth.

4:. In a camera-carrier for bicycles, a plate arranged to carry thecamera, a sleeve secured upon said plate, axle-legs carried by saidsleeve arranged to rest upon the rear axle, extensible groundlegspivotally connected with said axle-legs, and spring-clamps upon saidground-legs arranged to clasp said axle-legs and carry said ground-legswhen not in use; substantially as set forth.

5. In a camera-carrier for bicycles, a plate arranged to carry thecamera, a sleeve secured upon said plate, axle-legs arranged to becarried by said sleeve, ground-legs pivotally connected with saidaxle-legs, a telescoping extension on said ground-legs provided at itsinner end with a threaded portion and a beveled shoulder, and a slottedsleeve threaded upon said threaded portion; substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the wheels and frame of a bicycle, of acamera-carrier consisting of a plate arranged to carry the camera, anextension on said plate provided with clamps arranged to be secured uponthe frame, a recessed sleeve secured upon said plate, legs havinglaterally extending recessed arms arranged to be carried by said sleeve,springs arra ged in the recesses of said sleeve to retain said armstherein, and extensible legs pivotally connected with said legs;substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the wheels and frame of a bicycle, of acamera-carrierconsisting of a plate arranged to carry the camera, anextension on said plate provided with adjustable clamps arranged to besecured to the frame, a recessed sleeve secured upon said plate, legshaving laterally-extending recessed arms arranged to be carried by saidsleeve, springs arranged in the recesses of said sleeve to retain saidarms therein, extensible legs pivotally connected with said legs, andspring-clasps on said extensible legs arranged toengage said legs;substantially as set forth.

EDWIN W. SOFTLEY.

Witnesses:

A. B. CORR, J. M. SMITH.

